As the Coronation drew nearer, mugs and other souvenirs were being dispatched all over the world, especially to the Commonwealth countries. The magnificent model of the Queen on the Coronation chair was an absolute triumph. When he brought home Dora’s sample, she was speechless.
‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite like this,’ she murmured. The young queen was dressed in a gold dress, the crown on her head and long purple robes, looking so like real velvet she almost expected to be able to stroke them.
‘We had to guess at what she would wear and decided on gold. The whole piece is so expensive to make anyhow, what’s a bit more gilding?’
‘Why does it look as if some of the bits have broken off the chair at the back?’ asked Carole.
‘Because that’s how the real thing is.’
‘How do you know?’
‘We had photographs to work from.’
Carole’s questions went on, until she was satisfied that the beautiful object was perfect in every way. ‘It’s pretty good,’ was her final verdict.
‘I’m glad about that,’ Archie said with some amusement. ‘There’s only one thing,’ he began, looking anxiously at his wife.
‘Go on,’ she said suspiciously.
‘Well, I haven’t got many of them finished and I need this one to complete an order. You’ll get another as soon as they come out of the kiln. Promise.’
She shook her head in despair. So often she’d look at her shelf of figurines and find one was missing. It had been needed to make up an order.
‘Well make sure you do bring another. I don’t expect you’ll make that many and I’ll be very angry if we don’t have one. It will be part of Carole’s heritage. One of everything her father made.’
During school holidays, Carole often went into work with her father. She tried painting occasionally, but showed little aptitude for it. She managed to grasp how things worked in the casting shop, where she fettled and sponged away the seams left by casting the shapes from the moulds. Occasionally, if some items were broken during this stage, her Uncle William would attach the wrong heads to the wrong bodies and made highly comical figures as a result. It was part of the pleasure of being a small business. One task Carole did become adept at doing was fixing the lithographs and she often helped with this, managing to work almost as well and quickly as some of the girls. It became a source of pocket money, when she was able help her father.
Before the Coronation, a large exhibition was held at the Victoria Hall in Hanley. All the well-known names in the world of pottery were there as well as many of the smaller companies. Archie took a stand and Carole was delighted to help decorate it. Already, she showed some aptitude for creative needlework and she made white satin flounces, draped to hang down over the stepped stand. Strips of red, white and blue ribbon held it in place. It looked as good as any of the stands and was both patriotic and complemented the china very well. Samples of each of the special lines were arranged and spot lights made the whole thing shine gloriously. She felt very proud of herself and her father, when it was finished. There were several different designs of mugs, some with two handles and some with one, all lavishly gilded. The lion-handled mug attracted a great deal of attention and they took a great many orders. The magnificent Queen sat in pride of place at the top and Archie’s other special design, the King Edward Crown, was beneath it. Some of the crowns had a musical movement added, playing the national anthem when the object was lifted. Carole was fascinated by the idea and ensured that it was demonstrated at every possible opportunity. There were several other items, busts of the queen, taken from the larger model and some small boxes and vases.
‘It’s a magnificent display,’ Dora told him. ‘As good as any here, including the big names. Makes all those late evenings worth while. Have you arranged for some photographs?’
‘The press are taking stuff. We’ll get one from them. Now, how about a pint? We’ve just got time before we need to get our little girl home.’
‘I’m not that little,’ she protested. ‘If I was, I couldn’t have done all this stand, could I?’
‘No, love. You’ve done very well. You may not be much good at painting or drawing, but you’ve certainly got some creative talent.’ Archie put his arm round his daughter. ‘Makes it all worth while, doesn’t it?’
‘When it’s finished with, can I have the satin? I can make things of it.’
‘We’ll see,’ he promised.
‘I hate it when you say that. It usually means you won’t.’
The exhibition was a great success. It had been interesting to see what the ‘big boys’ as they were called, had come up with. There were many souvenir replicas of the Queen, but most agreed that Archie’s was among the very finest. All the same, the price and time taken to create some of the pieces, limited the possible orders but on the whole, the little factory would be working flat out until at least May the following year. It was a time of expansion and success.
‘You know, love, I think we should start looking for somewhere larger to live. I think we owe it to ourselves and our friends.’ The search had to be postponed for some months, however, as they were simply too busy.
The Coronation was a great event for the whole family. Mary and Harry came over for the day itself and several other friends were dropping in during the day to watch the ceremony on the tiny television. There had been warnings given out for several days. Watching television for a whole day would be bad for everyone’s health. Certainly, sitting in a darkened room was out of the question and several companies sold large quantities of small table lamps, designed to help prevent eye strain. The screens were rather small and not very bright, so it was impossible to see anything at all if there was much other light in the room.
Recipes were put out in the magazines for special meals which could be prepared in advance so the housewife could also be free to watch everything without starving her family. It was easy for the Potteries families. Lobby. Huge pots of the savoury stew were made the previous day and simply needed heating. Carole made a special cake and iced it, decorating it with the same striped ribbons as were used on the show stand. The obligatory die-cast model of the Coronation coach sat on the top. The fervour of patriotism rippled through the land as everyone who could watched the new young monarch as she became their very own queen. Street parties were organised everywhere and bunting hung from every possible place. Most windows held pictures of the Queen, decked round with red white blue in every possible combination of materials.
‘Poor little thing,’ Mary had said at one point during the ceremony. ‘Her little neck doesn’t look strong enough for that great crown.’
‘It’s quite like Dad’s model, isn’t it? Only a bit bigger, I s’pose. She should have had it made of china. That isn’t very heavy, is it? It might have broken though, if the man had missed her head and it fell on the floor. Could have the music box in it as well. Save having all the bands and stuff.’
‘Carole, why don’t you just be quiet and watch?’
‘Sorry,’ she sighed, pulling a face.
Despite the poor weather, it was a day everyone would remember. The magnificent procession passed by, with the huge, laughing Queen Salote of Tonga, who insisted on riding in an open coach, despite the soaking rain. The ranks of representatives came from countries throughout the world. There was a glow of patriotism through the land. Sir Winston Churchill was in another coach, making his famous victory sign and receiving a rapturous welcome from the crowds.
‘Bout time he was recognised properly,’ Archie said. ‘After all he did for us.’
It was a long day and once the television transmission was over, they all sat back, smiles on their faces.
‘Why don’t you take the dog for a walk?’ Dora suggested. ‘You could all do with some air. Mum and I can get tea ready.’
Back at work the next day, the girls came in with mixed feelings.
‘What we all gonna do now? Now all the fuss is over?’
‘So I’m back on the flowers am I? Shame, I was just getting used to all the royalty as well.’ The banter began again and soon, everyone was busy again, always working on something different. There were so many different pieces, nobody had the time to get bored. The little lion-handled mugs were given different badges and sent to the commonwealth countries to commemorate the visits made by the new queen. Badges of cities, especially London, were designed to appeal to the tourist trade and any other things they could think of. If there was any sense of anti-climax, it was soon dispelled as new orders came in. As Archie had hoped, the success of the Coronation memorabilia had spread his name and the quality of the work was appreciated by many of his customers.
For Dora, the social side of life became much more active. Some of the overseas buyers needed to be entertained and she was always a part of this. Meals out became a part of the routine and Archie became ever more determined to find them a bigger house. He wanted to be able to entertain at home, amongst other things. Once she overcame her initial shyness, Dora began to enjoy meeting people from all over the world. There was a system of barter beginning to grow and she received some beautiful lace table mats from someone living in Bermuda, following a visit they had made. They had returned home with some pieces of Archie’s china.
‘Just fancy,’ Dora had told her mother, ‘Me, having beautiful hand-made lace like that on my table and all the way from Bermuda. They asked us if we’d like to go and stay, would you believe.’
‘Blimey. You won’t be speaking to us soon. Holidays in Bermuda? Whatever next. You won’t go will you?’
‘Shouldn’t think so. They said it wouldn’t cost us a penny, once we were there but it would certainly cost a fortune to get there. We haven’t even been out of the country.’
In the autumn of nineteen fifty-three, her parents told Carole they were going to move.
‘But I can’t, we can’t,’ she protested. ‘What about school and all my friends?’
‘We’re only moving to Meir Heath,’ Dora said. ‘You can still go to the same school and your friends will easily be able to come and stay if you like. It’s a lovely house. Very big and there’s a lovely garden.’
For Archie, the whole prospect had become the achievement of his prime ambition. He’d wanted a big house, high on a hill overlooking green fields for as long as he could remember. Greenacres fulfilled this in every way. At the front was a large drive, bordered by a mature shrubbery. The back was mostly lawns and there was an orchard to one side, with space to make a vegetable garden. Mary and Harry were most enthusiastic and Harry looked forward to helping re-claim the land from under the weeds. There was a large double garage and a range of outbuildings. Archie had bought a new car, a large, slightly ostentatious model, Dora thought. He’d also decided that their old one wouldn’t fetch much so decided to keep that for his wife to use.
‘Two cars,’ exclaimed Dora. ‘Bit much for the likes of us, isn’t it?’
‘Nonsense. You’ll be able to fetch your shopping and go to see your parents whenever you want to. I always aimed for my big house and two cars parked outside.’
Once there, Carole was also delighted. She had her own large room with a wash hand basin of her own. It felt like living in a posh hotel.
‘Now we really can entertain people properly,’ Archie said with pleasure. ‘But I want to decorate first. I always fancied a panelled dining room. I think I might have a go at it. What do you think?’
‘I think you’re getting carried away. Let’s just settle in. We could do with a new lounge suite. The one we’ve got is the one we had at Branksome, really it’s Mum’s old one.’
‘We can get it re-covered,’ Archie suggested. ‘That’d do the trick. There’s nothing wrong with it.’
‘It’s just so dated. What was all the thing in the thirties is hardly right for us now. Here. But, OK. Let’s see about getting covers made.’
The large lounge had a delft rack high round the edge and it was decided that this was the perfect place to display the china collection. The light walls showed off the colourful pieces perfectly. Carole spent many hours arranging everything and it became her task to take them down for washing every few months. At least the precious china was out of reach and safe from accidents. The only thing that still happened was that pieces still disappeared to make up orders or for unexpected presents. Archie usually remembered to replace them but there were often large gaps. He even carried odd samples in the car and when he was short of cash, was known to barter with various tradesmen, even to settle bills. The local garage owner, also a good friend, had a good collection of pieces himself, in return for the odd tank of petrol.
When everything was finally finished the way he wanted it, Archie and Dora walked through the house with Carole. It was perfect.
‘It’s everything I ever dreamed of,’ Archie said emotionally. ‘I’ve got it all now. My own business, making the china I always wanted to make. My lovely home. My wife and a clever daughter who will go to University and have all the chances I never did. Thank you, Dora, for showing me how a miner’s son could make it big.’
‘Are you famous now, Dad?’ asked Carole.
‘It depends what you mean by famous. My china is in hundreds of homes all over the world. If they look at the bottom and see my name there, yes I’m famous. But the fact that particular piece of china was chosen by them, looked at every day by them, well that’s good enough for me. My china will be around long after I am.’
‘Unless someone drops it,’ Carole laughed.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
As Archie gained customers all over the world and plenty of trade in Great Britain, he bought jewellery for Dora, a gold cocktail watch, very elegant and very expensive. She was very thrilled with it and enjoyed showing it off when they went out with their friends. One day he handed her a box. It was a few weeks before her birthday but he couldn’t contain his excitement to wait for the special day.
‘Here you are, love. What I always promised you.’ With shaking fingers she opened the box. Inside was a huge solitaire diamond on a platinum band. ‘I always said you’d have the biggest diamond I could afford. Make up for the pathetic little one I bought you when we got engaged.’
‘It’s wonderful but you shouldn’t have. I love my engagement ring.’
‘Don’t you like it then?’ Archie said, hugely disappointed.
‘Course I do. It’s magnificent. But it must have cost a fortune. How can we afford it?’
‘I did a deal. One of my customers from Brum. He knew a man who made up rings and I told him what I wanted.’ Carole knew her mother felt uncomfortable but even she recognised that it was just another sign that her ever generous father felt successful.
‘It’s very posh, isn’t it, Mum?’ Dora gave a shrug and said it would be hers one day.
It wasn’t long after this that Archie’s mother came to stay with them. She’d had a fall and as with so many elderly people, had fractured her femur. Once the hospital had done what they could for her, she need looking after on a long term basis. There was no alternative but to take her into their home, despite their past differences.
‘I hate inflicting her on you but there’s nowt else I can think of,’ Archie moaned to his wife.
‘I’ll just have to make the best of it,’ Dora replied stoically. ‘I dare say she’ll be grateful enough, once she’s being looked after and having regular, decent meals.’
‘I wouldn’t hold yer breath.’
Carole had never known her father’s mother very well. Visits to her had always been short and stilted and though it was never mentioned, she gathered there had been some row in the distant past. The old lady had been cantankerous from the moment she’d moved in, banging on the floor for attention. Even Mary had found it hard whenever she visited, and she’d always got on with everybody.
For Carole, it coincided with her exams and she took very little notice of everything that was going on around her. Such was the self obsession of the young. Archie loved to help his daughter, especially with maths. She tried to hide her homework some nights, knowing he would want her to explain it all to him and let him share the work. It was rather too time consuming, however sympathetic she may have felt. It was as if he was still trying to catch up with what he’d missed himself when his schooling was cut short. As always, he had little sense of time and prioritising tasks.
Dora bore the brunt of the difficulties of having the old lady living in their spare room. The constant tramping up and down the stairs, carrying meals on trays and the demands of the old lady was wearing her down and her own health began to suffer.
‘Eh, love, you look rotten,’ Archie said one evening. ‘I’m sorry. I’ve been so busy at work, I scarcely do anything to help.’
‘I’d just like a night out occasionally. Maybe even a bit of a holiday.’ Archie bit his lip. They’d been used to taking the odd weekend breaks and staying in nice hotels, often with their various friends. None of the cheap boarding house stays they’d once enjoyed.
‘Yes, well. We’ll make some plans. Once I’m over this patch. Maybe you’d like to go out for a drink? Carole will stay with Mum, I’m sure.’
For once, they managed to spend an evening talking properly instead of slumping in front of the television, where Archie tended to doze off, and Archie realised just how much of a burden the old lady had become.
‘She’ll have to go into a home. There must be somewhere she can go,’ Archie suggested. ‘William can’t look after her and anyway, we’ve heard the old house is being compulsory purchased to make way for some new road. The landlord’s given everyone notice.’
Rough Clay Page 26
